Accepted Scientific Name: Mammillaria albilanata Backeb.
Kakteenkunde 1939: 47, fig. as Mamillaria
Neomammillaria albilanata (Mammillaria albilanata) Photo by: Julio C. García
Origin and Habitat: This species is endemic to SW Mexico, where it occurs in the states of Chiapas, Colima, Guerrero, Oaxaca and Puebla.
Altitude: It grows at altitudes between 500 and 2,200 m asl
Habitat: The species grows in tropical deciduous and temperate forest between spare overgrowth in limestone rocks, and vertical cliffs in humus soil. In the same area it is possible to find several cactus and succulent species like: Mammillaria beneckei, Mammillaria fuauxianaSN|15157]]SN|15157]], Mammillaria guerreronis, Coryphantha bumammaSN|2315]]SN|3933]], Coryphantha retusaSN|3933]]SN|2315]], and Ferocactus macrodiscusSN|4317]]SN|4317]].
Ecology: They have an extremely dense white wool cover that certainly reflect a large fraction of the visible solar radiation contributing to protect the plants from the blazing sun of their bare habitat.
Major Threat(s): The species is relatively rare and uncommon, but in some subpopulations it is abundant. There are no major threats, however in some areas habitat destruction for cattle ranching and small-scale farming is having an impact on the subpopulations.
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Mammillaria albilanata
Common Names include:
SPANISH (Español): Biznaguita
UKRAINIAN (Українська): Мамілярія альбіланата
Description: Mammillaria albilanata Backeberg (Mammillaria fitauxiana Backeberg) is a clumping cactus species typically so densely spined and woolly in the tubercular axils that the epidermis is almost completely concealed. There are four subspecies recognized the nominate, oaxacana D.R.Hunt, reppenhagenii (D.R.Hunt) D.R.Hunt and tegelbergiana (G.E.Linds.) D.R.Hunt.
Habit: Plants usually solitary, sometimes branching basally and from the sides to form small clumps. Each head is surrounded by a complete ring of star-like purple-pink flowers.
Roots: Fibrous.
Stems: Spherical-flattened, elongate or shortly cylindrical, sunken apically, to 15 cm high and 8 cm in diameter.
Tubercles: Grey-green, spiralling, firm, without latex, axils coarsely woolly.
Central spines: 2-4, stiff, straight, very short 2-3 mm long, white,cream or pale yellow, with brownish tips.
Radial spines: 15-26, stiff, straight to slightly curved, chalky white, 2-4 mm long.
Flowers: Very small (7-8 mm long) circling the crown of the plant. Carmine to purplish pink to pink.
Flowering Time: Late spring onwards.
Fruits: Clavate, pink to red.
Seeds: Pale brown.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Mammillaria albilanata group
- Mammillaria albilanata Backeb.: (ssp. albilanata) has deep carmine flowers, 15-20 radial spines. Distribution: Guerrero.
- Mammillaria albilanata subs. oaxacana D.R.Hunt: has 20-22(-27) white radial spines to 4 mm long. 1-4(-6) radials 4-7 mm long, glassy white with short brown tips. Distribution: Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, Oaxaca, Mexico.
- Mammillaria albilanata subs. reppenhagenii (D.R.Hunt) D.R.Hunt: has carmine flowers with lighter margins, 19-26 radials. Distribution: Colima.
- Mammillaria albilanata subs. tegelbergiana (H.E.Gates ex G.E.Linds.) D.R.Hunt: has purplish pink flowers, 18-24 radials. Distribution: Chiapas.
- Mammillaria noureddineana Repp.: stem globose to cylindrical, apex covered with white wool and spines. Radial spine: 15-20, central spine: 4 -6 glassy white with brownish tip. Flowers carmine. Distribution: Oaxaca, between San Pablo villa de Mitla and Ayutla. Altitude 1900 - 2000 m.
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Hernández, H.M., Gómez-Hinostrosa, C. & Cházaro, M. 2013. Mammillaria albilanata. In: IUCN 2013. "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species." Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 13 January 2014.
2) Pilbeam J., “The Cactus file, Mammillaria” 6: 120, Cirio Pub. Services, 01/Dec/1999
3) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey "The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass" Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
4) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
5) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
6) Reppenhagen, “Die Gattung Mammillaria” 1987
7) Curt Backeberg: “Die Cactaceae: Handbuch der Kakteenkunde.” Volume 5, Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart New York 1984
8) Ulises Guzmán “Catálogo de cactáceas mexicanas.” Universidad National Autonoma de México, Mexico State, 2007
9) Urs Eggli, Leonard E. Newton “Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names”. Birkhäuser 2004
10) Backeberg: “Kakteenkunde, Monatsschrift der Deutschen Kakteengesellschaft” 1939
11) D.R. Hunt, “Mammillaria Postscripts” 6: 9, 1997
12) D.R.Hunt: “Kakteen und andere Sukkulenten”. 6: 129-130 1977
13) H.E.Gates ex G.E.Lindsay: “Cactus and Succulent Journal (US),” 38: 196 1966
14) CONABIO. “Catálogo taxonómico de especies de México.” In Capital Nat. México. CONABIO, Mexico City. 2009.
1. Véliz Pérez, M. E. “Cactáceas Guatemala” 1–129. Univ. de San Carlos de Guatemala, Guatemala. 2008
Neomammillaria albilanata (Mammillaria albilanata) Photo by: Alexander Arzberger Send a photo of this plant.The gallery now contains thousands of pictures, however it is possible to do even more. We are, of course, seeking photos of species not yet shown in the gallery but not only that, we are also looking for better pictures than those already present.
Read More... Cultivation and Propagation: In good conditions with careful application of water and excellent ventilation Mammillaria albilanataSN|15150]]SN|15150]] grows without difficulty.
Growing rate: It is a slow growing species that rewards the patient grower with a beautiful displays of flowers since from an early age.
Soil: Requires good drainage provided by a very permeable open cactus soil (With not less than 50% grit content). Reduce the use of peat or other humus sources in the potting mixture.
Repotting: Repot every 2-3 years. Use small sized pots.
Feeding: During the beautiful season enrich the soil using a fertilizer rich in potassium and phosphorous, but poor in nitrogen, because this chemical element doesn’t help the development of succulent plants, making them too soft and full of water.
Watering: Water should be carefully applied and only when the soil is dry to the touch, as this cliff-dwelling species is very prone to root rot. Allow soil to drain thoroughly before watering again. Additionally, water should not be applied from above, as the feathery spines will retain water and add to rotting problems, but in good conditions with excellent ventilation, in bright light, it usually grows without particular difficulty. Do not water in the winter.
Light: Outside full sun or afternoon shade, inside it needs bright light, and some direct sun. Direct sun encourages flowering and heavy spine production.
Hardiness: Protect from frost. But it's hardy to -5°C if kept dry. A winter rest that allows the plant to shrivel (perhaps losing up to 25% of its summer height) will encourage flowering and long time survival.
Pests & diseases: It may be attractive to a variety of insects, but plants in good condition should be nearly pest-free, particularly if they are grown in a mineral potting-mix, with good exposure and ventilation. Nonetheless, there are several pests to watch for:
- Red spiders: Red spiders may be effectively rubbed up by misting the vulnerable plants every day
- Mealy bugs: occasionally they develop aerial into the new growth among the wool with disfiguring results, but the worst types develop underground on the roots and are invisible except by their effects.
- Scales: Scales are rarely a problem.
- Rot: it is only a minor problem with cacti if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won't help all that much.
Propagation: Direct sow after last frost or (rarely) cuttings. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days at 21-27° C in spring, remove gradually the glass cover as soon the plants will be well rooted (ca 1-2 weeks) and keep ventilated, no full sun for young plants!